'Angry man' is jailed for trying to strangle his wife
A 50-YEAR-OLD man strangled his now ex-wife, tried to smother her with a pillow and repeatedly beat her during their relationship, the Royal Court heard.
David McKelvie's acts were described as 'worrying' by Judge Russell Finch, who sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in prison for 12 assaults.
McKelvie, a non-local who spent periods living in the island, also admitted two counts of assault on a young child.
The offences happened between 1999 and 2008 and attacks on his partner included punching her in the head and kidneys, kicking her legs and scratching her forehead.
Judge Finch said it was the first case of such protracted domestic violence to come before the Royal Court.
'Domestic abuse is more of a problem than people realise,' he said.
'You have been an angry man for most of your life. Even with your substantial mitigation a strong message needs to go out to violent partners and spouses.'
He added that the two assaults on the child were 'cowardly'.
